Chapter 3: Changes

The sun was just beginning to roll down towards the horizon, enveloping the Zenin clan territory in the soft glow of evening twilight. Almost a year had passed since the last incident, when almost all curses were eradicated, but the air still carried a sense of tension. Toji, with a bandage covering his eyes, confidently walked through the streets lined with wooden planks and adorned with traditional lanterns.

"There he goes," barely audible, whispered a young man standing at the entrance of the store.

"That's Toji... heard he killed them all," the words of the second guy trailed off as he noticed that Toji turned his head in their direction, as if he heard every word spoken, despite his hidden eyes. The young men hastily disappeared from view.

Members of the clan who crossed his path quickened their pace, their faces contorted with fear and contempt as their gazes slid over his figure.

"Isn't he ashamed?" thought an old man, looking down at the ground as Toji passed by.

Even children playing on the street froze, staring at him in bewilderment.

"Why are they all looking at him, Mom?" asked a little boy, but his mother only urged him on, whispering, "Don't look, let's go."

Sometimes, out of anger towards Toji, someone would throw a stone, but he lazily dodged it, as if it were nothing more than a pesky insect. His imperturbability only heightened the overall atmosphere of tension and disapproval that hung in the air, making everyone around feel even more uneasy.

As for the man and his actions, he had decided that he needed to adapt to enhanced senses. He developed several unique ways for his body to adapt.

The first method, which could be seen now, involved relying entirely on his hearing and touch. He adeptly navigated space, picking up the slightest sounds and changes in the air.

The second method involved vision but excluded hearing. Toji used earplugs to block out external sounds and focused on his sight. By defocusing his gaze, he learned to see the world differently—noticing air fluctuations and subtle changes in surrounding temperature. This method allowed him to see what remained invisible to the naked eye.

The third method excluded both vision and hearing. In these moments, Toji completely surrendered to his intuition and reflexes, becoming a purely intuitive being.

And the fourth method, which he was perfecting, was related to his sense of smell. In a world where vision and hearing were limited, odors gained new significance. He learned to distinguish and follow the faintest scents, allowing him to perceive the surrounding world through a new prism. Even a simple change in the wind's scent could warn him of approaching people or changes in the weather.

These unique abilities displayed by Toji instilled even more fear in those around him. Now, clan members saw in him not only an outcast and a nobody but someone with unprecedented capabilities.

Some believed Toji posed a threat to their way of life and safety. Whispers and gossip became commonplace as the man walked by.

"We can't leave him near us. He's too dangerous and unpredictable."

The situation reached a boiling point. Zenin clan leaders began discussing how to deal with Toji. They feared that his presence could lead to a rift in the clan and instability.

"We can't allow his power to get out of control."

They began searching for a way to eliminate the potential threat.

***

On behalf of Toji.

The morning turned out surprisingly calm. No one was at home, so I started my morning routine without any issues. The only problem was the lingering sense of unease that had been with me for a week.

Having finished everything, I headed towards the hall as usual. Usually, there were few people or none at all at this time, so I got there without any trouble. However, the commotion inside the hall and the exercise equipment moved outside made me quicken my pace.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked.

The guy I addressed hesitated slightly and nervously looked in my direction.

"We were ordered to move everything out," he replied with uncertainty.

"Who gave the order?"

"It was me, Toji," Ogi's voice sounded, and he came out of the hall. "We need space to store weapons and items. Anyway, it's none of your business, go on your way."

"None of my business, huh?" I stepped closer to him. "Make your storage somewhere else, Ogi. This is my hall, and it's not for you to decide what to do with it."

Veins on his face swelled with anger. It was the first time I openly confronted him.

"Get out of my sight, I won't repeat it," he said, barely restraining his anger.

"Make me, Ogi," I smiled provocatively.

In the next moment, a sword flew out of its sheath, aiming for my neck. But my reaction was instant – my hand grabbed the blade.

"You..." Ogi, stunned, tried to pull the sword out, but I held it firmly, as if in a vice. Then I squeezed the blade with all my strength, and it snapped, unable to withstand the tension.

Silence surrounded us, interrupted only by the sound of breaking metal. Ogi, shocked by what was happening, recoiled.

"The balance of power in the clan has changed, Ogi," I said firmly. "Times have changed. Now you will consider my opinion. Hey, return everything back, and then get out of here, and I better not see you again."

"O-okay!" the guy next to him quickly started obeying the order.

Ogi stood still, his eyes burning with anger, but he was powerless to do anything. Finally, he realized that he would have to reckon with me.

After everything was put back in its place, and the unexpected guests left, I started my training.

"I hope the equipment holds up..." I muttered to myself, adding another plate to the barbell. "Two hundred kilograms, not bad. Too bad the equipment is old... I'll have to buy new ones somehow."

Lying on the bench, I firmly gripped the barbell. Muscles tensed, preparing for the lift. With each repetition, I felt the tension and anger that had accumulated in me over the past few days leaving my body.

After a few sets, I stopped, lying on my back and staring at the ceiling. Thoughts about the clan's future and my role in it continued to swirl in my head. Today clearly showed that changes are inevitable, and I must be prepared for them. My actions today will inevitably have consequences.

After a two-hour workout, I had another meal and came to the conclusion that there was no point in going to sparring today.

"And what to do..." I pondered, lying on the couch, until an idea came to my mind. "How about checking up on Miyuki at school?"

I was homeschooled and rarely, very rarely, ventured beyond the clan's territory, so the idea seemed tempting to me.

"I think he'll be happy to have lunch with me, and I'll be interested to see Kyoto."

Changing into more casual clothes, I discreetly left the Zenin clan territory. Kyoto's streets were lively and bustling. I noticed people around lively discussing the latest news about superheroes and villains that had taken over the screens of city televisions. But I was not particularly interested. Heroes and villains... To me, they were just different sides of the same coin, clowns in masquerade costumes playing their game.

Passing by a group enthusiastically discussing the latest heroics, I just snorted to myself. My world was completely different, where every step mattered, and there was no room for showboating.

Reaching Miyuki's school, I paused for a moment to look around. The school building was impressive, and I couldn't help but acknowledge that Kyoto's architecture retained its uniqueness even in the era of superheroes.

"All right, time to find Miyuki," - with this thought, I entered the school gates.

Finding him was a bit challenging due to the abundance of smells and sounds, but I managed. He stood in a corner of the schoolyard, and the scene I witnessed evoked strong disapproval. Three senior students surrounded him. One with a quirk allowing him to manipulate the wind was tossing Miyuki into the air, laughing. The second, with strength increasing the physical size of his hands, menacingly held a fist over the boy. The third seemed to derive pleasure just watching the scene.

Miyuki tried to keep calm, but I saw how he struggled to hold back tears. And that was the last straw.

I instantly found myself behind the wind quirk guy. My kick to the side was swift and powerful. The guy flew to the side like a leaf in the wind, colliding with the concrete wall with a dull sound.

"T..." began the second guy, but his words cut off as my fist met his stomach. The force of the blow was so great that he doubled over and fell to the ground right into his own vomit.

"Bastard!" shouted the third, waving his hands to apply his quirk. But I only felt a weak pressure.

"Telekinesis?" I stepped forward. "Too weak."

The gang leader managed only a short scream before I knocked him off his feet. I grabbed him by the collar and started delivering blows to his face and body. Blood stained my clothes, coloring them a dark red.

Then I turned him to face me and, grabbing both arms, sharply pulled them towards me. The sound of a crunch filled the air.

"A-a-a-a-a-a-a!" he screamed.

I released his lifeless body, and it helplessly fell to the ground.

"Are you okay, Miyuki?"

Turning around, I expected to see gratitude or relief, but in his eyes, I saw only horror. He looked at me as if I were the very nightmare.

I stepped back, losing balance. I wanted to protect Miyuki, but instead, I scared him more than those I had just punished.

"Forgive me, Miyuki... I... I didn't mean..." My words were interrupted, and I felt a lump in my throat.